Youngest 084

Episode 84

Creak—the door slowly opened.

Thud, thud, thud. The adults’ shoulders jumped with a start.

They hadn’t done anything wrong, but for some reason, it felt as if they’d been caught gossiping behind someone’s back.

“Hup, two. Hup, two.”

Flustered, Balok suddenly began doing push-ups.

“Aeina, Hazel? Where are my maid and handmaiden?”

Rosetta calmly lifted the lid of the teapot, feigning a search for the attendants.

“……”

Leviathan alone managed to maintain composure, still reading his documents.

“Dad, your papers are upside down.”

Though, of course, he was hardly normal either.

“Ahem. Ruby, what brings you here?”

Leviathan replied as if nothing were amiss. Narrowing her eyes, Rubian scrutinized the adults’ suspicious behavior.

Her blue eyes rolled across the table.

“What? You ate something tasty without me!”

Wow, how petty!

“What do you mean?”

Leviathan, bewildered, glanced over the table.

Only then did he notice the assortment of desserts the maids had set out for appearances’ sake.

Ah. He hadn’t even known there were snacks.

But… those are exactly the kind of treats she likes best.

“Ruby, that’s not it. Come here.”

“That’s right! I didn’t even touch them! My precious youngest! Come to Grandpa!”

But Rubian pursed her lips and turned her head with a huff.

You’re all mean. I even bought you cake!

Muttering to herself, Rubian chose her seat—next to Rosetta.

“Oh my.”

Rosetta, who had been searching for a servant under the teaspoon, looked up in surprise.

“I’ve bought cake for these two before.”

Mother hadn’t, so she was innocent.

That seemed to be her logic.

Rosetta beamed and embraced Rubian.

“There, there. Don’t play with those black-hearted, stiff old men. Come here, darling.”

“Heh.”

“Ruby, you’re wearing such pretty pajamas!”

“No, it was Hazel who…”

Judging by her shy, rounded cheeks, snacks were just an excuse; what she really wanted was the comfort of Rosetta’s gentle arms.

Faced with the sudden intrusion of such a formidable rival, Leviathan and Balok froze in place.

With a soft groan, Leviathan surreptitiously pushed a cookie toward Rubian.

“So, Ruby, what is it?”

As Rubian absentmindedly toyed with Rosetta’s long hair, she suddenly seemed to remember her business and turned her head.

“Oh, right!”

“…?”

“Why can’t I enter the Spring Festival competition? Why? Why not? Why?”

Rubian peppered them with questions. Leviathan straightened with a nonchalant expression, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Of course you can’t.”

At that, Rubian coughed.

“See? Coughing like that. You’re still not over your cold. You need to rest at home.”

“Impossible…”

Her head drooped.

“I…”

The way she mumbled and fiddled with her hands tugged at his heart.

What’s this? Is she that disappointed?

Leviathan anxiously watched for her next move. Just then, she lifted her face abruptly.

“I knew that’s what you’d say!”

Ta-da!

Rubian pulled out a scrap of cloth. It covered half her face with loops to go over her ears.

“How about my handmade mask? Perfect respiratory protection! Borvel approved it!”

“That’s…”

What even is this?

Leviathan’s face twisted in disbelief.

Without a care, Rubian donned the light blue mask. She looked uncannily used to it.

With only her bright eyes peeking out, it reminded him of her tucked up in bed.

Rosetta couldn’t hold back a laugh.

“Ahaha! Isn’t that clever? However did you come up with such an adorable idea?”

“Rose…”

“It’s fine, Levi. Her cough is nearly gone, and she’ll be in even better shape by the competition in three days. Borvel gave his approval, didn’t he?”

“Sigh.”

She intends to go out looking like that? Like some sort of masked bandit?

…Though, as masked bandits go, she was certainly the cutest.

Balok reached out, wanting to try it himself. Rubian shook her head emphatically, crossing her arms to make an X.

“It’s her first festival. She should enjoy it.”

With Rosetta backing her up, Rubian nodded vigorously.

Tsk. There was no winning this.

Leviathan, at last, had no choice but to raise the white flag.

“Why do you want so badly to compete in the first place?”

At that moment, a fierce ambition flashed in the child’s eyes. Rubian whipped off her mask and shouted,

“Because I have to win and get the first prize!”

“Are you eyeing that wretched card again…”

He murmured with a sigh, rubbing his forehead, while Rubian only giggled.

Just then, the drawing room door opened again.

“Ruby! There you are!”

“Youngest fairy, it’s troublesome to run off in the middle of a conversation.”

“It’s troublesome to get lost in the house and have to be found by me, too.”

“Ahem.”

It was Void and Liam.

“Well, never mind. Ruby, come here! It’s time for Windmill Spin!”

“Ah, save me!”

Rubian quickly burrowed into Rosetta’s arms. Laughing, Rosetta shielded her with both arms.

“No one here but us. Oh, you little rascals.”

“How unfair, Mother… Hogging the youngest for yourself!”

The two relentlessly hovered around Rosetta, pestering Rubian. The once-tranquil parlor was thrown into chaos in an instant.

Rosetta screamed with joy.

“How wonderfully noisy our house is!”

Unable to contain herself, she reached out and pulled both Liam and Void into a hug by the scruff of their necks.

“A daughter in my arms, sons before my eyes!”

“M-Mother, I’m crushing…”

Squished within Rosetta’s embrace, Rubian murmured, her cheeks thoroughly smooshed.

Liam and Void, who had been bouncing about like colts, exchanged glances, hunched awkwardly.

Slowly, satisfied smiles crept over both their faces.

“Ah, truly, an excellent idea, Mother.”

“I should squish Ruby, too.”

Squeeze—

They all piled on to hug Rubian together.

“…We’ve become a lump, haven’t we?”

Leviathan muttered in disbelief.

Pink, silver, and black all tangled together—one good shove would have sent them rolling clear across the continent.

…Though strangely, he almost wanted to join in.

“Ahem. Well, since I’m the father…”

Maybe he should join them.

As he awkwardly started to rise, his eyes met Balok’s, who was doing the same.

“…”
“…”
Caught in the glint of the old man’s eyes, Leviathan understood at once.

What was needed now was—

Bang! Instinctively, his body moved.

“Your Grace, the young lady should be going to bed soon… Goodness. Why not just glue you all together and be done with it?”

Truly.

Who had been the victor that day?